Line drive and clutch control for tractors



March 19, 1935.

H. W. EIS

LINE DRIVE AND CLUTCH CONTROL FOR TRACTORS Filed Dec. 4, 1933 3Sheets-Sheet 1 Haz'y /T Zig March 19, 1935.

H. W. EIS

- LINE DRIVE AND CLUTCH CONTROL FOR TRACTORS 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec.4, 1955 Chim/wmp j L E. m u N i NN N N NWN N NNN. QN @QN ,ww n IN NN udF u m\ L j @l MN NN u N LNE March 19, 1935. H, W. Els 1,995,094

LINEDRIVE AND CLUTCH CONTROL FOR TR'ACToRS Filed Deo. 4, 1953 C 3sheets-sheet 3 Patented Mar. 19, 1935 LiNE DRIVE AND CLUTCH CONTROL FonY'rnAC'rons Harry W. Eis, Holgate, OhioY Y sensation Deniber'ii, 1933,serial No. '100.920

-s claims. (C1. 18o-77) This invention relates to line drive and clutchcontrol mechanism for farm tractors.

A The vobject'of the invention is to provide means whereby a tractor maybe guided and controlled from a remote point as, for instance, from' aplow, harrow, or other impleinentor device being pulledby the tractor,thereby enabling one man to operate both theltractor and implement anddispensing with the services of a separate operator for the tractor.

a remote control for tractors, the construction and operation of whichis such as to insure a gradual and positive grip of the clutch in thesame manner as if .the clutch pedal were oper ated by the footof anoperator. f

A further object is to soarrange the clutch operating means that theclutch can be moved to operative or inoperative position by `means of asingle rope or cable leading from the tractor to the implementdrawn-thereby, flexible cables being connected with the axle of thetractor and leading to the implement to permit guiding of the tractorfrom said implement.

A further object is to control the operation of the tractor .pulley fromtheimplement being drawn, and means whereby the tractor clutch andpulley may be operated manually directly from the tractor. y

A further object is -to provide a novel iormfoiv latch or detent whichcoacts with va locking notch and pin to hold the operating leverinclutchdisengaged position, said detentvbeing operable to close the notchand permit the levertc move to clutch-engaging position.

A still further object of the invention is generally to improve thisclass of devices so as 'to increase their utility, durability andediciency.

In the drawings forming part of thisV speciiication and in which similarnumerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the iigures ofthe drawings, n l

Figure ,1 is a side elevationof a tractor pro- Y vided with a line driveand clutch control con-A structed in accordance with the presentinvention, Y

Figure 2 is a top plan View oi Figure 1, Figure 3 isa detail perspectiveview'of the means employed for guiding the tractor, Figure 4 is aperspective'view of the clutch operating lever and its associated partsdetached and showing the'lever in clutch-engaging position,

- Figure -5 is a detail vsidefe'levation showing the pin seated in thenotch and locking the loperating leverin clutch-disengaged position,

' Figure 6 is a similarview showing the pin releasedfrom thelockinglfnotch and the operating Alever ready to move toclutch-engaging'V position.

The improved line drive and clutch control forming the subject-matter ofvthe present invention is principally designed for-attachment totractors, and by way of illustration is shown in .Y connection with atractor of conventional con- A further object of the invention is toprovide struction'Y in which designates the chassis, 6

the-front wheel, 'fthe steering rod, 8 `the engine and Q9 a'" leveroperatively connected with the Y clutch,` indicated atY 10. Thetractoris also provided With the'us'ual pulley 11 and drivers Aseat 12.The purpose of the invention is to-control the tractor from a remotepoint, such 'as from a plow, harrow, or-other implement, not shown,drawn'by the tractor and to enable the operator on said implement togui-de or steer the tractor there isv provided on each side of themachine depending levers or supports 13 having their upperv ends boltedvat 14 to the Side barsof theA chassis and their lower ends bent tovformsockets 15 in which are pivotally mountedat 16 the lower ends of uprightbars 17. Riveted or otherwise rigidly secured to the forklof therontwheel 6A are oppostely disposed brackets 18 having openings formedtherein adapted to receive suitable eyes 19 formed on the adjacent ends(1f-connecting rods 2o, the opposite ends of the connecting rodsbeingpivotally united atZl'with the adjacent bars 17 atpoints a shortdistance above the pivots 16 of the bars.V Secured in any suitablemanner to the upper ends 'ofthe bars v1'? are pulleys 17 over whichextendflexible cords or cables 22`arranged oneon each side of thetractor, as shown, one end of each cable being connected with theldifferential housing 'at 18"' and the other endA thereof extended undervsuitable guide pulleys 23 mounted on the seat 12 of the tractor andthence to the implement being drawn bythe tractor so that an operator onthe implement, by-pullingrearwardly Von either cable mayeffectuallyguide the movements of'said' tractor.

v',Ihe clutch control mechanism comprises an operating lever-24preferably formed 'of parallell bars havingY their intermediateitvortionsv spaced apart to form a vertical yoke`25, one of the barsbeing extended vertically above the yoke andterminating inan voperatinghandle 26 and-the other bar being bent laterally 'to form av` foot pedal27; The operati'nglever 24 is pivotally mounted on the frame or chassisof the tractor-by nieansof-A a bolt 28 extending ythroughV theyoke 25 asshown,4

and pivotally connected at 29 to the lever, immediately above the yoke25, is the hooked end 30 of a bar or link 31, the opposite end of whichis pivotally connected at 32 with the clutch lever 9 so that pivotalmovement ot the operating lever will effect engagement and disengagementof the clutch 10. Rigidly'secured to the frame of the tractor in frontof the operating lever is a depending bar or support 33 and pivotallymounted at 3 4 on thelower end of said support is an auxiliary yoke 35whichextends through the main yoke 25 and normally rests on a lockingpin 36 extending transversely of the main yoke, as shown. SecuredV tothe support 33 is one endlof aicoil spring 37., the opposite end'or"which is secured to the. closedend of the auxiliary yoke 35 and tends`toj exert a 'constant upward pull on said auxiliary yoke and therebynormally and yieldably-.hold't'h lower edge of the auxiliary yoke inContact with` thelocking pin 36. The side bars forming the auxiliaryyokos near the ooooond; of thoroke, formed With transversely. olinodlooking notches, 0.1' 'ro cesses 33 adapted to receive the pin 36;as;will bo more folly described,horoilloftor..Y .Pivotally mountedbetween, tho' Sido bars of the auxiliary yoke, at the open endA oftheyoke, is.a latch, or doelt. so, the lower @no ofl troph. meinesupwardly, as indicated at 40, and-normally closes thenotch 3.8. Thedetent or latch, 39de mounted foriree pivotal movementlin the auxiliaryyoke 35 and is so constructed,thatl when-the lower end ot the, operatinglever24'isQn1ovedinthe direction of the implement `being..draw n, thepin 36 will engage the projecting-end ofthe detent 39V and` move saiddetent out' of the path of thelocking notch 38 so that when the pin36Vreaches the notch, the spring. 37-willcause the pinto enter'l the'notchand thusghold theoperating lever 24 in setposition andtheclutch indisengaged position A. Stop Din 4l is. preferably. mountedon theauxiliary yoke to limit the pivotal; swinging movementoiV the detent 39.Pivotallymounted onthe lower endof thelever 24 'aclipor clevis 4.2.'00.Whiohis Soourodone ond ofo. oxi'olo rope or. Cable 43. loadingrearwardly.. through a guide;

loop 44 secured to the tractor, frame and thence tothe implement beingdrawnby the tractor Vso that. an operator on said implement, byyexerting @longitudinal pull ontho Cable., may aotuete. the lever 24` toengage or disengage` the clutch and thus-Qontrol.. the action.. of; themotor. As. the pulley; 11V` is connected. with the motor it follows thatmovement ofthe operating lever 24 willalso control theoperation of saidpulley.

, When the device isattachedto atractor, the usual worm wheel onqthe rodrI-is disengagedfrom the worm gear Vand said wormwheel coveredby asuitable cap or housing 45 so as to 4protect the wormwheel fromdirt andother-,foreign matter. is previously stated,.the cables 22 and 43 extendrearwardly to a plow, narrow, or other implement or device to beoperatedand the movementsof t11.tractor may be readily controlled by theop erator on said implement by pulling longitudinally on either of thecables` 22. When it is desired to disengage the clutch,` the operator onthe implement being drawn, exerts a rearward pull on the cable 43 whichtilts the lower endof the operat- .ing lever 24 on its pivot 28 and`moves said ,lever rearwardly until the locking pin 36 engagesthe loweror projecting edge of the detent 39 so Vas to move. the detent out ofVthe Path of thejpin 36 and-thus permit the pinto enter the notch.Duringthis action oflthe lever24, the upper end I; of said. lovorwill;bomored forwardly .and through.

further longitudinal pull is exerted on the cable 43 which causesthe pin36 to ride on the adjacent face of the detent 39, andout of the notch38, as best shown in Figure `of the drawings, thereby permitting thedetent to drop by gravity tothe l position shown in Figure', when, if aslight slack is given the cable 43, the lever 24 will return to normalposition, under the action of the spring in the clutch, thereby engagingthe clutch and causing thetractor to move forward. As the pin 36 movesforwardly, it will ride over the lower inclinedi-face 40 of the detentand force the latter against the stop 41 so as to permit the pin toclear 'the notch and in which position the lower end of the detent willproject slightly below theauxiliary yoke 2,5V and; in positionto beagantlted by the pin 36 when a further rearward movement is impartedtothe operating lever. When no implement is being drawn and the operatoris seated on the seat12, Of 'the tractor, the movement l of theclutehmay be effected by eithermanipula Ving thelhandle 26 ofthe operatinglever or; the

foot pedal27,.it being, of course, understood that the movement of theoperating lever willalso; en.- gageanddisengage the pulley 11 at thesametime that the clutch is actuated. Y I

In order to assist in steering the tractor and keep thetractorrunningstraight ahead Awhile the linesa re held slack infthe hands of theoperator, there are provided coii springs 46,di,sposedoneV on eachsideof the front wheeli. One end of each spring 46 isconnected with thebracket 13 while `the other end thereof.. isV connected withL a rod 47having aterminal Yeye 48 `whiehslidably engages tho. Connecting rod20,-.thoro boing adorno-.49 Slidably mounted on each comiectingrod,2 0`and held in adjusted. position on thov rodbro-.Clamping screw 50. Thetension of thesprings 46mayA-be regulated by VVsliding` the clamp 49against the adjacent oye 48 and. then tightening theolompf ing screw 50.

From the foregoing description, it is thought that the construction andoperationof the device willbe readily understood byV those skilled intheart and furtherA desription -thereof is deemed Unnecessary, f f

y Having thus, described the invention, IV claim;

1. YThe combination `with. a tractor` including a clutch, of anoperating lever pivotallly mounted on one side of the tractorand havingitshintermediateportion formed with a yoke and its upper portionterminatingy an operatinghandle, a foot lever extending laterallyfrom-the. operating handle, a hanger secured to the tractor, anauxiliary yoke operating in the firstfmentioned yoke and pivotallymounted on thhanger, a pinexT tending transversely of the lever yoke,vvtherebeing 'a locking notch formed in theauxiliary yoke, o dotontpvota-llrmountod .in Saidauxliory yoke and having its lower end inclinedand normally extending` below the auxiliary yoke, a spring forining aconnection between vthe hanger and'closed end of the auxiliary'yoke, av'connection-between the upper portion of the voper-ating lever andclutch, and a cable connectedwith the lowenportion of.l the operatingleven and operable ,from an implement drawn by .theetractorfortiltingithe lever and disengaging the clutch, the movement off. the.lever inone. directionnoausins, the.- .pin .to

move the detent and permit said pin to enter the notch and movement othe lever in the opposite direction causing the pin to ride over thelower end of the detent. I

2. The combination with a tractor including a clutch, of an operatinglever pivotally mounted on the tractor and operatively connected withthe clutch, a lock'ng pin disposed transversely of the lever, a yokepivotally mounted on the tractor frame and normally and yieldablybearing against the pin, said yoke having its lower edge provided withtransversely alined locking notches, a detent pivotally mounted in theyoke between said notches and having its lower end inclined and normallyprojecting below the yoke, means for limiting the pivotal movement ofthe detent, and a cable connected with the lower end of the cperatinglever and operablefrom an implement drawn by the tractor for tilting thelever to disengage the clutch, movement of the lever in one directioncausing the pin to bear against and tilt the lower end of the detent toexpose the notch and permit the locking pin to enter said notch andmovement of the lever in the other direction causing the pin to rideover the lower edge of the Vdetent and actuate the lever to engage theclutch.

3. The combinatio-nwith a tractor including a clutch, of an operatinglever pivotally mounted on the tractor and operatively connected withthe clutch, a locking pin carried by the lever, a yoke carried by thetractor andyieldably supported in engagement with the pin and providedwith a notch -in its lower edge, means for rocking the lever, a detentpivoted in the yoke abovev theY notch to normally close the notch withits llower end projecting below the notch and one side edge presented tothe pin, the movement or the lever to clutch-released position causingVthe pin to rock the detent and enter the notch to lock the parts insaid position, further movement of the lever in the same directionremoving the pin from the notch and releasing the detent to again closethe notch, and movement of the lever to clutch-engaged position causingthe pin to ride across the lower end of the detent and clear the notch.

4. The combination with a tractor including a clutch, of an operatinglever pivotally mounted on the tractor and operatively connected withthe clutch, said lever having an intermediate vertically-disposed yoke,a pin extending transversely of the yoke, a hanger, an auxiliary yokepivotally mounted on the hanger and extending within the yoke of thelever, a resilient connection between one end of the auxiliary yoke andthe hangerfor normally and yieldably holding the yoke in en-V` gagementwith the pin, said auxiliary yoke having a notch in its lower edge,means for rocking the lever, and a detent pivoted in the auxiliary yokeabove the notch to normally close the notch a clutch, of an operatinglever pivotally mounted on the tractor, a bar forming a connectionbetween thelupper end of the lever and the clutch, a transverse pincarried by the intermediate portion of the lever, a horizontallydisposed yoke pivotally mounted on the tractor for tilting movement andresting normally on said pin, means for yieldaoly holding the yoke inengagement with the pin, therebeing a. notch in the lower edge of theyoke near one end thereof, means for lrocking the lever, and a detentpivoted in the yoke above the notch to normally close the notch with itslower end projecting below the notch and one side edge presented to thepin, movement of the lever to clutch-released position causing the pinto rock the detent and enter thenotch to lock the parts in saidpos-ition, further movement of the leverV in the same direction removingthe pin from the notch and releasing thedetent to Yagain close thenotch, the movement of the lever to clutch-engaged position causing thepin to ride across the lower end of the detent and clear the notch. i Y

6. The combination with a tractor including a clutch, of an operatinglever pivotally mounted on the tracto-r and operatively connected withthe clutch, a locking pin carried by the lever, a yoke pivotally mountedon the tractor frame and normally and yieldably hearing upon the pin,said yoke having a locking notch in its lower edge, a detent pivotallymounted on the yoke above said notch and normally closing the notch withits lower forward corner presented to the locking pin below the notch, astop on the yoke adjacent the forward edge of the detent, and a cableconnected to the lower end of thelever and operable from an implementdrawn by the tractor for tilting the lever in one direction todisengagethe clutch and ,.59 tilt the detent to permit the pin to enterthe locking notch, further movement of the lever in the samedirectioncausing the pin to leave the notch and the'detent to resumenormal position closing the notch, and return movementv of theleverca-using the pin to ride under the lower end edge of the detent toclear the notch and the clutch to bek engaged.

HARRY W. EIS. [L.S.]

